Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Scientific Name(s): Phytolacca americana L. Abundance: uncommon What: young shoots & leaves, berry juice How: young shoots & leaves boiled in three changes of water; berry juice boiled then made into jam/jelly Where: woods, shady areas, sunny areas, fields When: spring Nutritional Value: vitamins Dangers: all parts of plant contain different amounts of extremely toxic (fatal) alkaloid compounds, especially roots, stems, mature leaves, and seeds. Medicinal Summary: Root* - lymph flow stimulator; anti-inflammatory; anti-swelling; antibacterial (tincture) *extremely poisonous, only to be used by trained experts! Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, ovate to lanceolate, and can measure about 4 to 10 inches in length and 2 to 5 inches in width. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges. Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth without any serrations or lobes. Leaf Color: The leaves are a medium to dark green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially as they age. Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in racemes, which are long, drooping clusters. Flower Color: The flowers are typically white to greenish-white. Fruit: The plant produces berries that are initially green, turning to a deep purple or almost black when ripe. They spiral down red-purple stalks 2"-4" long, to form narrow, elongated clusters. Seed: Each berry contains several small, black seeds. Stem: The stem is thick, hollow, and often reddish or purple as it matures. Hairs: There are no significant hairs on the leaves or stems. Height: Phytolacca americana can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4 to 10 feet in height over the course of just one summer. Young pokeweed plants, ready to be boiled then eaten. The pokeweed on the left is a perfect size for eating, the one on the right is too big. Young sprouts next to a more mature pokeweed. Red color has already appeared in the older pokeweed's stem, indicating it is now unsafe to eat, even after multiple boilings. Mature plants can grow to over 5' tall in one summer, making them one of the fastest growing plants in Texas. When mature they'll have red stalks, and multiple berry clusters as shown below. Pokeweed leaves are hairless, pinnate-veined, alternate along the stem, edges are slightly "ruffled" with very minor scalloping, and can grow to over 10" in length! Flowering pokeweed. There will usually be multiple flower spikes on the plant. Close-up of a flower spike. The flowers spiral up the spike. The round bulbs haven't blossomed yet. Extreme close-up of a single pokeweed flower. Note the five, white petals. After the flower are done the berries begin to grow. They remind me of squat, green pumpkins at first. The older berries, near the base of the spike, ripen to a purple color before the berries at the tip. The seeds are extremely poisonous but the pokeweed berry juice can be made into a jelly...very carefully! Completely ripe, now. They form a single spiral down the stalk, just like the flowers did. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Pokeweed was often one of the first greens to appear after a winter devoid of fresh plants and so it was cherished not just for its fantastic taste but also because it allowed satisfying a hunger for plants. It mainly grows in the protective yet sunny edges of woods with braver plants being out in full sun an others hiding in complete shade. It's bright green color stands out among the darker greens, browns, and grays of later winter plants. The stem starts out green like the leaves but quickly turns red as it matures. The youngest part of the stem at the top of the plant may stay green while the rest of the stem turns almost a purple-red color. Young, boiled pokeweed leaves & shoots are considered a special treat in the South and a canned version is occasionally available in grocery stores. The pokeweed leaves must be harvested before there is any noticeable red color in the leaves or stem, usually when the plant is still under about six inches tall. Even at this young age there are highly toxic alkaloids present so the leaves must be boiled in three changes of water to render them safe enough to eat. Bring just to a boil, then replace the hot water with fresh, room temperature water. Unfortunately, the required boiling does reduce their vitamin C content some but they will remain loaded with all sorts of other vitamins and minerals. The seeds are very toxic even after cooking, but the juice of the berries can be made safe by boiling. After boiling the berry juice can be made into a jam or jelly. The berry juice can also be used as a dye or even as an ink. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

I reckon some folks might see pokeweed as just another ol' nuisance. But here in the mountains, we've been cooking up pokeweed dishes for years! Them leaves? Boil 'em up, drain 'em, and you got yourself some tasty poke salat. And the berries? Perfect for makin' jellies and such, they even got some medicinal benefits. But now, heed this warning: pokeweed, it's poisonous stuff, so handle it with care. 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐙𝐄𝐒 in 300dpi resolution: 4 (four) PNG files in the following sizes are attached for Instant download ◆ 5x7" ◆ 8x10" ◆ 9x12" ◆ 11x14" To print your digital art files, we recommend using a professional online printing service. After purchase, you can access your downloads by visiting your Etsy Profile > Purchases and Reviews If you purchased as a 'guest', you will receive an automated email from Etsy containing your download links. Please check your spam/junk folders, or if using Gmail the social/promotions tabs. This is not a physical item. Nothing is shipped or emailed. 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐔𝐒𝐄 NCAppalachianArt 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘. ● 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨, 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 NCAppalachianArt 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐫𝐭. ©NCAppalachianArt

Fred Opie interviews artist and educator Dr. David Driskell about the pokeweed plant in his garden.

Ever wanted to try the popular Southern dish poke sallet, often called "poke salad"? I'm a native of the rural United States and am here to show you how to detoxify and prepare this delicious dish.

This card is a reproduction of my original watercolor painting "Pokeberries". As a kid I always got a kick out of a regional dish we could forage in our yard- the pokeweed! We ate "poke salat", as it is known around here, which is a young poke plant breaded and fried. Yum! Another fun thing about this plant are its beautiful, deep purple berries. Once the plant reaches this stage it is poisonous for humans, but beloved by birds, and maybe curious kiddos (possibly also grown women) who like to use the smooshed berry juice for ink, paint, or pretend makeup. No judgement here, guys. This card is a perfect way to share your memories of this lovely, versatile plant, or to simply share the gift of nature and connection with someone special. Thank you for visiting my listing! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out! * This lovely card is reproduced from my own original, hand-painted watercolor. It has been carefully reproduced for use as a greeting card, ready to be personalized by you! Perfect for all occasions and seasons! Deborah’s botanical and nature inspired watercolor compositions are created from her own photographs of people and plants, insects, and natural objects found on her family’s eastern Kentucky land. Each painting is created using many layers of a watercolor glazing technique to slowly build up the form and character of each object. They offer an opportunity to reflect intimately on the natural world and to consider the shared stewardship of both our traditions and the environment. - S I Z E S & M A T E R I A L S - -------- REPRODUCED PRINT --------- Artwork is reproduced and printed without losing any of the detail and vibrancy. - 1 greeting card with envelope - Blank inside - Size: A7 (5"x 7") - Materials: acid free archival paper and professionally printed using archival ink - Printed and packaged in Lexington, Kentucky

Scientific name: Tradescantia species Abundance: plentiful What: leaves, stem How: leaves salad, stem steamed or cooked Where: shade, partial sun, woods, fields When: spring, late summer, fall Nutritional Value: minor amounts of vitamins and minerals Other uses: the normally blue stamen hairs indicated mutation by turning pink when exposed to radiation. The same effect has since been observed when the dayflower plant is subjected to chemical pollution. Medicinal Summary: Stem Sap - demulcent; soothes inflamed skin; soothes insect bites and stings; soothes gastrointestinal and urinary tract inflammations; laxative; helps control high blood sugar (poultice, tisane) Leaf Arrangement: Alternate; single leaves spaced evenly along the stem. Leaf Shape: Linear-lanceolate; long and narrow with parallel sides and pointed tips, measuring 2-6 inches long and 1/2-1 inch wide. Leaf Venation: Parallel; multiple unbranched veins running longitudinally along the length of the leaf. Leaf Margin: Entire; smooth and unbroken edges. Leaf Color: Deep green, sometimes with a bluish-gray sheen. Flower Structure: Three petals, typically rounded and overlapping, arising from a cup-shaped calyx. Stamens: six, with yellow anthers. Pollen bright yellow. Flower Color: Variable, most commonly blue-violet to purple, but also pink, rose, or rarely white. Flowers open in the morning and close by afternoon. Fruit: Capsule; dry, splitting open at maturity to release numerous small seeds. Seed: Globose; round and shiny, about 1/16 inch in diameter, black or dark brown. Stem: Erect and clumping; unbranched or sparingly branched, growing 1-2 feet tall. Smooth and hairless. Hairs: Absent; no hairs present on any plant parts, depending on the specific species. Height: 1-2 feet. Spiderwort. Clump of spiderwort plants. Close-up of mature spiderwort stems. Spiderwort flower, flowerbeds, and stem. Close-up of spiderwort unopened flower buds. Close-up of spiderwort flowers. Spiderwort leaves. Mucilaginous slime from Spiderwort stem. Stemless Spiderwort (Tradescantia subacaulis)lacks a stem...which is probably obvious from the name. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. I love this plant because it is nutritious and can be found in many parts of Texas area almost all year long. Spiderworts seem to prefer shady, sandy soil along streams and ponds but can appear anywhere it's moist, even low spots in sunny fields. They grow upright on pencil-thick stems, too about the height of two feet. They'll have a cluster of a few opened flowers and many unopened flower buds. Each flower opens in the morning and rarely lasts beyond noon. New flowers appear each morning, all spring, summer, and fall, even lasting into the winter if the weather is mild enough. The leaves are long, tough, slightly rough, with a parallel venation. Looking closely at the leaves, you'll notice they clasp/wrap around the stem with a bit of the leaf running down the stem. Hard frosts will kill it back to the ground but it'll be back and ready to eat in about two months. All parts of the plant are edible but due to the overall toughness of the plant, I generally only eat the flowers and flower buds. The sap of these plants is very mucilaginous, similar to okra and aloe vera. Rubbed on minor (1st degree) burns this sap brings relief. Also like okra, it can be used to thicken stews, just chop up the stem really fine. The longer the bits of stem are simmered the softer they'll become. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Poke Salit Anyone? Uses of Pokeweed Here in eastern Kentucky, this plant is abundant and thrives. I personally have three in my garden that volunteered to grow there. Pokeweed, or poke as I know it…